Car Review

By Mike Hanley

Why do luxury-car companies offer entry-level models? It's in part to give new buyers a good first impression of their brand. Lexus' new ES 350 entry-level luxury sedan is remarkably successful in this way because it has all the things buyers in this segment expect: capable performance, a serene ride, advanced safety features and a nicely appointed cabin. It's the sheet-metal equivalent of a firm handshake.

Exterior & Styling
The front-wheel-drive ES 350 has sharper angles and more defined body panel creases than the 2006 ES 330. With its rear-set cabin and short decklid, the new ES looks a lot like the company's GS sport sedan; it's a classy, conservative design.

Standard alloy wheels measure 17 inches in diameter. The rear doors are especially long and might prove difficult to open if you're in a tight parking space.


Ride & Handling
The ES 350 is one of those cars that can play tricks with your senses; it's incredibly easy to find yourself driving much faster than you think you are. As is common of Lexus passenger cars, it's very quiet on the highway, with just a whisper of wind noise.

The four-wheel independent suspension delivers a comfortable cruising experience. The ride is reminiscent of Lexus' flagship LS 430 sedan, which has also been redesigned for 2007 and is now dubbed the LS 460. Though manhole covers can deliver a hard hit, the suspension filters most road imperfections before they can disturb the cabin. With the smooth ride comes moderate body roll, and the car also tends to bob up and down a few times after traveling over a big dip in the road.

Steering the ES 350 is a low-effort affair. There's not a hint of friction in the wheel — it's as if every component is made of Teflon. Though the system is engine-speed sensitive, steering effort isn't measurably greater at highway speeds. Perhaps this is because the V-6 is only turning at around 2,100 rpm when cruising on the highway. At any rate, greater effort would be appreciated at higher speeds.


Going & Stopping
The ES 350 has a 272-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 54 hp more than the 3.3-liter V-6 in the outgoing ES 330. The former five-speed automatic transmission has been replaced with a six-speed automatic that has a clutchless-manual mode. With EPA estimates of 21/30 mpg (city/highway), the ES 350 gets slightly better gas mileage than its predecessor.

Though some competitors, like the Buick Lucerne and Chrysler 300, offer an optional V-8, ES 350 buyers aren't likely to find the V-6 wanting for power. It provides strong acceleration and teams with a smooth-shifting automatic; during my test, the transmission never made a harsh shift. I averaged 30 mpg during a stretch of highway driving, the same as the EPA's figure.

Like the steering system, brake pedal effort is light. The pedal has a soft feel, and it's difficult at times to modulate the touchy brakes in order to stop smoothly.


The Inside
The five-person cabin has a flowing dashboard design that's also found in other newer Lexus cars. The cabin looks a bit plain when finished in black, but the controls — especially the intuitive touch-screen display that manages the navigation, audio and climate systems — are easy to learn. (When not equipped with the optional navigation system, conventional buttons for the climate and audio systems occupy the space where the display would go.) I wish Lexus would ditch the digital clock for a more luxurious timepiece — it's too similar to a Corolla's.

Standard luxury features include real wood trim on the doors and center console, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, keyless access and start, and chic LED lighting. The dashboard features some interesting angles, but in certain light the material has a noticeable shine to it. Direct sunlight through the rear window can also wash out the image on the touch-screen display. Other than a larger than normal gap near the bottom of the center stack, trim pieces fit together tightly.

Cloth seat upholstery is standard; my test car had the optional leather. The front seats have 10-way power adjustment, and the driver's backrest is soft and comfy, but I was sore after driving for a few hours because the bottom cushion doesn't provide enough support. A power-extendable driver's seat cushion is optional.

Rear headroom, legroom and shoulder room are similar to the previous-generation ES 330, but rear hip room has been reduced by a few inches. The outer spots of the rear bench seat are comfortable enough for adults, but don't expect any extra legroom or headroom. As might be expected, the center spot has less usable headroom and legroom and the seat isn't as comfortable, but at least there's not a bump in the floor taking up foot space.


Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the ES 350 its highest rating, Good, in its frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests.

An electronic stability system, tire pressure monitoring system and all-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist are standard. Side-impact airbags for the front seats, front and rear side curtain airbags, and driver and front passenger knee airbags are standard. Rear-seat side-impact airbags are included with the optional Ultra-Luxury Package.

Other optional safety features include radar-based adaptive cruise control and adaptive headlights that turn left or right with the steering wheel to better illuminate curves in the road. The adaptive cruise control system is included with Lexus' Pre-Collision System, which will tighten the front seat belts and ready brake assist if the system determines a collision is likely. PCS can also brake the car without driver intervention if needed.


Cargo & Towing
Measuring 14.7 cubic feet, the ES 350's trunk is about 1 cubic foot smaller than the Lincoln MKZ's trunk, and its rear seats don't fold to expand the cargo area; there is a trunk pass-thru that's suitable for skis or other long, skinny items. The trunk has four tie-down rings, and a standard temporary spare tire or optional full-size spare on an alloy wheel resides under the trunk floor. Maximum towing capacity is 1,000 pounds when properly equipped.


Features
Noteworthy options include a panorama glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, a power rear sunshade, and front and rear parking sensors. Models with the voice-activated navigation system have a rearview camera that makes judging the distance between the ES 350's back bumper and another car or object a breeze. A Mark Levinson surround sound system can be bundled with the navigation system; when the car is in Park, DVDs can be viewed on the navigation system's 7-inch screen.


ES 350 in the Market
After spending a week with the ES 350, there's no reason to suspect it won't retain its title as Lexus' best-selling passenger car and remain a popular choice in the entry-level luxury segment. For a modest premium over the outgoing model, the ES 350 adds more standard features, more power and a more distinctive appearance. Though there are sportier alternatives, like the Acura TL or Infiniti G35, the ES 350 should keep current ES owners coming back while also appealing to shoppers who might not have considered the previous ES. And that's not an easily accomplished feat.
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Future historians will record that, in the summer of 2006, astronomers revoked Pluto's status as a planet, and Nissan reeled in the spacey styling of the Maxima, bringing it down a little closer to Earth-car standard. Those same historians will also render a verdict whether either decision was a good one. Right now we're might be too close to these events to tell, but we're thinking the styling changes to the 2007 Nissan Maxima are a good thing. And we still like to think of Pluto as a planet. In both cases, call us old fashioned.
Gone is the beaver-toothed, studded grille from the '58 Buick, replaced by a more conservative, more elegant grille more in keeping with the Nissan Altima. In fact, all of the body work has been restyled. The 2007 Maxima gets new headlamps, new taillamps, and redesigned fenders, rocker panels, rear spoiler, and hood. The cabin gets a new instrument cluster and center dash for 2007, making for easier, more intuitive operation.

Underneath, a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, replaces the more traditional five-speed automatic for smoother, more efficient operation. Nissan excels in this technology and we found the Maxima's transmission responsive.

The Nissan Maxima fills a niche for aficionados who appreciate something different. Straddling the line between mid-size family hauler and a near-luxury sport sedan, it offers drivers an interesting alternative to mid-size sedans such as the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. The Maxima is more focused on personal luxury and performance. And the 2007 model is just a little less quirky than last year's model.

Buyers choose between the more responsive SE and the more plush SL. Either way, cruising on the highway is effortless with Nissan's wonderful 255-hp V6 engine. For 2007, both the Maxima SE and SL come standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission, which translates to smooth, efficient power. Gone is the available six-speed manual, which is fine because we didn't care for it.

Both the Maxima SL and SE models abound with luxury features. The re-styled 2007 cabin is innovative and comfortable with supportive, luxurious seats. Surviving the 2007 revision is Maxima's daring Skyview roof, a narrow glass panel running lengthwise over the front and rear seats. It's the sort of feature associated with futuristic concept cars. Also interesting are the available rear bucket seats, a feature seen primarily on show cars or as an option on high-end luxury models.

Together, the rear bucket seats and Skyview roof make back-seat riders feel more like first-class passengers and less like coach-class cattle. The Maxima is not as family-friendly as the Altima, particularly with the optional four-bucket-seat interior. Instead, it's designed for people who don't have children or maybe just one and want a more interesting, more luxurious sports sedan. (A traditional rear bench seat comes standard for owners who may want to put three people in back.)

In short, the 2007 Nissan Maxima is an enjoyable and interesting sports sedan.

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Introduction

The BMW 3 Series coupes have been completely redesigned for 2007. These all-new, fifth-generation coupes follow on the heels the new BMW 3 Series sedans that were introduced last year.
With sleeker styling and carrying less weight than a four-door sedan, the two-door or coupe version of BMW 3 Series model has special appeal for drivers who demand sporty driving dynamics but need a back seat and a decent sized trunk.

If you think of a coupe as merely a sedan with two less doors, you need to change your thinking as it applies to BMW. The coupe is nearly two inches longer, more than an inch trimmer and has a roofline that is more than two inches lower than the sedan's. In fact, the only exterior component the coupe shares with the 3 Series sedan is door handles, and the coupe needs only two of them, so right there, one segment of component weight is cut in half.

Handling is sharp, responsive, precise, yet the ride isn't harsh, in spite of the fact that a sport suspension comes as standard equipment.

The 2007 BMW 335i coupe features a new twin-turbocharged engine that puts out 300 horsepower, which makes for the ultimate driving machine. We found it to be an extremely responsive and pleasing car, with none of the turbo lag associated with turbochargers. Meanwhile, the 328xi features all-wheel drive, which enhances traction in wet or snowy weather. A new convertible with a retracting hardtop and the next ultra-high-performance M3 are anticipated for launch in calendar year 2007.

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